This is a really nice example of the virtual and physical worlds merging. The bots are made from 22 pieces and are controlled from an external computer. But the real question is, are they robots?

Typically when we think about a robot we automatically assume that it is self contained to some extent. It has some means of locomotion – wheels, legs, or tracks, a source of power, some sensors, and a brain to control it all. But what about robots where the intelligence isn’t ‘on-board’? Are they still ‘robots’? If the answer is no, then how would you classify them?